The Timewaster Letters
As expected the bitch dropped us yesterday. In a rage of frustration, I disobeyed a direct order from Vic and emailed Dr. HP (the bitch) for some feedback from the horse's mouth.
My email:
I'm disappointed and distressed to learn from Paul of [Our Estate Agents] that you've offered on another property and withdrawn from our sale, when we were just a few days away from being able to exchange contracts on Nobby's House.
Paul has given me feedback on your reasons for pulling out:
a) Had time to think / reconsider.
b) Concerned about legal right of way.
c) Concerned about the [lack of] damp-proofing.
d) Answers to outstanding queries have not been forthcoming.
Frankly, I'm surprised at these reasons:
b) In almost four years we have never had any problem with using the access to our property's back garden. Our neighbour, Mrs. Kim has always allowed us access, as is our legal right. There has never been an issue of any sort. She has provided us with a key to the new gate lock she installed last year. She has offered us the use of the side passage for bike storage, etc. We use the access every week in the winter and more often in the summer.
c) We instructed an independent third-party surveyor (Peter Cox Ltd) to give a clearer idea of the true extent of the damp and costs of treating it on the 4th of January. Their report was available to you on Friday evening, but you have not requested a copy of that report. In summary, the cost of a new damp-proof course is just £400 (inc. VAT) and all work could be done externally -- i.e. no internal mess. As all of the internal walls downstairs -- apart from the hallway -- have been replastered in water-proofed cement sand render within the last two years, it is highly likely that no replastering apart from patches in the hallway will ever be necessary. The estimated cost of replastering the hallway is £250. The surveyor described our property as "being in good condition".
d) Our answers to all of your outstanding queries were available from our solicitor on Friday evening.
Considering that the cost of the damp-proof treatment was going to be no more than £650, our invitation to you to make a new offer at £201,500 was a fair and generous one.
That offer is still on the table, if you are inclined to reconsider.
Sincerely yours,
Nobby
I thought she'd reply "fuck off", but in fact I got the following:
Dear Nobby,
I am sorry you are disappointed and I appreciate that my decision will
cause you some delay in moving on, but I believe I have made the right
decision in buying another house.
I have had some concerns all along about no 79 and its suitability for
my family, but your house was the one I liked best from those available
when I was looking in November, and due to my need to move quickly, I
decided to go ahead with the purchase despite my concerns.
I'm sure Paul has outlined these to you, but in case he has not provided
you with the details, I will do so.
> b) Concerned about legal right of way.
I am glad you have had no issues with your neighbour. I spoke to her
twice and while she acknowledged the legal right of way, she made it
very clear that she does not want people to use the access that crosses
her back garden, especially in the summer, when she might be using her
garden, and at night, when she would find it understandably frightening
for people to walk past her window. Moreover, the passageway is full of
dustbins etc, which make it very difficult to pass through with
bicycles. As an alternative, she suggested we took rubbish, garden waste
etc through the house, which she said had always been done before.
This arrangement does not suit us because of (a) the very nice cream
carpets in the dining area, (b) the fact that we regularly go for bike
rides in the summer, and most importantly (c) because my teenage
daughter cycles to work in the evenings and would need to store her bike
safely on coming home. Your neighbour kindly offered us the possibility
of storing one bike in the passageway, under the condition that we did
not then use the back access but always used the front door; this
alleviates my latter concern somewhat, but doesn't allay my concerns
about freedom of access more generally.
> c) Concerned about the [lack of] damp-proofing.
> d) Answers to outstanding queries have not been forthcoming.
Both my solicitors and myself have been surprised at the unnecessary
delay in your solicitors' responses since the middle of December, given
that you knew I was hoping for a very quick purchase. I was
particularly disappointed by your initial refusal to negotiate on the
costs raised by the surveyor's report in order to organise the work
yourself, despite my hurry to move, and then hearing more than 3 weeks
later that you had not arranged for the work to be done but had simply
got a second quote for the work. This caused unnecessary delay in the
purchase, as we could have agreed a figure in mid-December. The fact
that you now wish to negotiate a figure for the work on the basis of
this second quote was not passed on to me until earlier this week, by
which time I had come across a property that I think is more suited to
us. I hardly need point out that if you had agreed a figure for the work
in December, we would have exchanged before this week, and this
situation would not have arisen.
I hope these facts clarify my decision . I hope you and your family find
a new purchaser very quickly - you have a lovely home and I am sure it
won't take too long.
Yours,
Dr HP
Which is lovely, except she's talking bollocks. "Facts" my arse. So I replied:
Thank you for your reply and frankness.
I shall be taking up the access right of way with my neighbour and solicitor.
However, I am very unhappy about your approach to the damp-proofing.
Your survey was NOT an estimate or quote of costs. The £2,500 retention was a joke and the surveyor recommended a specialist report. We commissioned that specialist report. You did not ask us to carry out any works. You offered a reduction of £4,000 on the purchase price -- a joke considering the work required. We could not get any work done in that "3 week" period because, as you are fully aware, it was Christmas and New Year -- how and who was going to do this work?! And why would we get work done without a quote first? How could we negotiate "in December" when our solicitor didn't receive your joke offer until the 23rd of December and we had no idea of the true cost of works on which to base any renegotiation? YOU wanted guarantees and work carried out by a specialist company -- the 4th of January was the earliest day ANY damp-proofing company in Oxon and Bucks could get out to assess things.
You clearly live on a different planet to the rest of us. You are a timewaster and with the beauty of hindsight I can see we are better-off without you as our buyer.
[End of communication]
I'm expecting a "fuck off" reply now, but so far, no sign.
I know it's childish, but the exchange has made me feel much better about things.
Vic is completely unimpressed, but an exchange of emails is far more civilised than an exchange of firebombs...
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Bitch
The fucking time-wasting, untrustworthy, nit-picking, indecisive, psycho bitch has offered on another property that has just come to market. Fucking bitch.
We now have to wait to see whether her -- low -- offer is accepted. If so, we'll be dropped like a hot potato, and Vic will go knocking on her door and kill her. If not, we might be still on.
[2 min later update]
I've just told Vic and I quote "I'm going to go round and firebomb her house".
Followed by tears.
Fucking bitch.
The fucking time-wasting, untrustworthy, nit-picking, indecisive, psycho bitch has offered on another property that has just come to market. Fucking bitch.
We now have to wait to see whether her -- low -- offer is accepted. If so, we'll be dropped like a hot potato, and Vic will go knocking on her door and kill her. If not, we might be still on.
[2 min later update]
I've just told Vic and I quote "I'm going to go round and firebomb her house".
Followed by tears.
Fucking bitch.
The Doomsday Clock Tick Tick Tocks
The dread hands of human bone click silently on towards the midnight hour.
We're expecting a call any minute from our estate agents telling us whether or not we have lost our [house] buyer. On Friday she phoned up Lightfoots for "an update" -- things are progressing, we're addressing all your queries and £4,000 offer reduction* -- and finished the call by telling our agent that she would like to view some other houses. Probably a crude attempt to hurry things along and put some pressure on the chain. Oops. Big mistake lady, as by asking to view other properties you give our agent no option other than to tell us to put our house back on the market -- it has to work both ways our agent said (and he's right).
"Fine" was her response.
* Her offer was reduced in light of her survey that showed an area of damp in the hallway, and her concerns at the lack of guarantees on the damp-proof course. £4,000? When a new DPC costs £400 including the VAT?
"Why don't you go fuck yourself." is what I'd like to tell her. But instead we've offered a generous £1,000 discount off the original purchase price (which was too low anyway), with the tagline that it is a take-it or leave-it counter-offer.
Now we await her response. She's been thinking about it overnight. I guess she might make the call over lunch time.
The doomsday clock is ticking.
Fingers crossed it doesn't chime.
The dread hands of human bone click silently on towards the midnight hour.
We're expecting a call any minute from our estate agents telling us whether or not we have lost our [house] buyer. On Friday she phoned up Lightfoots for "an update" -- things are progressing, we're addressing all your queries and £4,000 offer reduction* -- and finished the call by telling our agent that she would like to view some other houses. Probably a crude attempt to hurry things along and put some pressure on the chain. Oops. Big mistake lady, as by asking to view other properties you give our agent no option other than to tell us to put our house back on the market -- it has to work both ways our agent said (and he's right).
"Fine" was her response.
* Her offer was reduced in light of her survey that showed an area of damp in the hallway, and her concerns at the lack of guarantees on the damp-proof course. £4,000? When a new DPC costs £400 including the VAT?
"Why don't you go fuck yourself." is what I'd like to tell her. But instead we've offered a generous £1,000 discount off the original purchase price (which was too low anyway), with the tagline that it is a take-it or leave-it counter-offer.
Now we await her response. She's been thinking about it overnight. I guess she might make the call over lunch time.
The doomsday clock is ticking.
Fingers crossed it doesn't chime.
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Waterlogged Pitch
Carlisle United's football ground is under 4ft of water. Irthington is on higher ground and far enough away from the River Eden to have escaped with just a soaking and a storm-battering. However, Ann and David are without power, heating or much food. David is planning to BBQ random meat out of their defrosting freezer indoors tonight -- he can't do it outdoors as the village is completely pitch-black. You might use the words "flood disaster zone" in normal circumstances.
The Daily Mail blames global warming.
When asked why she couldn't use her anti-terrorism stash of consumables and food-stuffs that she had been going on about for six months (at the same time telling us that we need one), Ann revealed that it has absolutely nothing in it. At least nothing that doesn't have to be cooked in the oven / on the hob. In fact their emergency provisions seem to consist of a slab of beers and a bottle of Chilean Chardonnay.
Carlisle United's football ground is under 4ft of water. Irthington is on higher ground and far enough away from the River Eden to have escaped with just a soaking and a storm-battering. However, Ann and David are without power, heating or much food. David is planning to BBQ random meat out of their defrosting freezer indoors tonight -- he can't do it outdoors as the village is completely pitch-black. You might use the words "flood disaster zone" in normal circumstances.
The Daily Mail blames global warming.
When asked why she couldn't use her anti-terrorism stash of consumables and food-stuffs that she had been going on about for six months (at the same time telling us that we need one), Ann revealed that it has absolutely nothing in it. At least nothing that doesn't have to be cooked in the oven / on the hob. In fact their emergency provisions seem to consist of a slab of beers and a bottle of Chilean Chardonnay.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
The Year of the Nobby
Welcome to 2005 people. I didn't post anything over the holiday period because we didn't do anything of interest over the holiday period. Which was great. India loved her plastic pirate ship -- she has already perfected a decent pirate "Ahaar!" -- and I got my classic King Kong movie poster*, so we were all happy.
* King Kong is coming out of the jungle, surrounded by scantily-clad, screaming ladies. He is currently being framed up at Bob's gallery, ready for his hanging in our new Art Deco style bathroom, when we eventually move**. It'll scare the hebe-gebe's out of India.
** Our buyer is pissing us around again. She's worried about the lack of damp-proof course guarantees and has reduced her offer by £4,000. As I told our estate agent, she can shove that up her damp course. We've had an independent surveyor out yesterday to give us a realistic report and quote on it. I reckon £1,000 and we'll offer to split this 50-50 with her in the form of a £500 discount on the price. TBC on receipt of the report. Her messing is also pushing the exchange date back -- and she was the one who wanted to move asap too... Earliest moving date is probably going to be the 28th of January now.
Welcome to 2005 people. I didn't post anything over the holiday period because we didn't do anything of interest over the holiday period. Which was great. India loved her plastic pirate ship -- she has already perfected a decent pirate "Ahaar!" -- and I got my classic King Kong movie poster*, so we were all happy.
* King Kong is coming out of the jungle, surrounded by scantily-clad, screaming ladies. He is currently being framed up at Bob's gallery, ready for his hanging in our new Art Deco style bathroom, when we eventually move**. It'll scare the hebe-gebe's out of India.
** Our buyer is pissing us around again. She's worried about the lack of damp-proof course guarantees and has reduced her offer by £4,000. As I told our estate agent, she can shove that up her damp course. We've had an independent surveyor out yesterday to give us a realistic report and quote on it. I reckon £1,000 and we'll offer to split this 50-50 with her in the form of a £500 discount on the price. TBC on receipt of the report. Her messing is also pushing the exchange date back -- and she was the one who wanted to move asap too... Earliest moving date is probably going to be the 28th of January now.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
A Summary of Recent Life Changes:
1) I have cut my fizzy pop consumption down to one can a day for over 100 days now. I have therefore avoided almost 4 kilos of sugar. 4 kgs! No wonder I've lost weight.
2) I haven't worn a watch for four months. I am no longer ruled by time and don't get stressed when I'm running late. My time-keeping is actually better than it's ever been.
3) India is now longer a baby. She is a toddler.
4) The house move is progressing slowly, but is on course for the last week of January.
5) Last Christmas I had three grandparents, this year I have none.
Targets for Next Year:
1) New house.
2) New job, with a salary sufficient to pay the new mortgage.
3) Pass CIMA exams, if end of January's results are a disappointment.
4) Write a book -- this may well be the complete memoirs of my granddad.
5) Produce a brother/sister/tag-team wrestler for India.
Other Notes:
1) Friends seem to be producing babies all over the place.
2) We are starting to catch up with people we haven't seen in a while (due to the traumas of the last few months): Met Lazza and Cazza's Finlay and Sara and Stasher's Rory a fortnight ago. Saw Matt and Sam Jenkins -- who are pregnant -- for the first time in four (?) years. Saw Rachel and Robin's Daisy last night for the first time since April.
3) India hasn't pulled over the Christmas tree.
Best wishes to everyone for the holidays. Happy Christmas.
1) I have cut my fizzy pop consumption down to one can a day for over 100 days now. I have therefore avoided almost 4 kilos of sugar. 4 kgs! No wonder I've lost weight.
2) I haven't worn a watch for four months. I am no longer ruled by time and don't get stressed when I'm running late. My time-keeping is actually better than it's ever been.
3) India is now longer a baby. She is a toddler.
4) The house move is progressing slowly, but is on course for the last week of January.
5) Last Christmas I had three grandparents, this year I have none.
Targets for Next Year:
1) New house.
2) New job, with a salary sufficient to pay the new mortgage.
3) Pass CIMA exams, if end of January's results are a disappointment.
4) Write a book -- this may well be the complete memoirs of my granddad.
5) Produce a brother/sister/tag-team wrestler for India.
Other Notes:
1) Friends seem to be producing babies all over the place.
2) We are starting to catch up with people we haven't seen in a while (due to the traumas of the last few months): Met Lazza and Cazza's Finlay and Sara and Stasher's Rory a fortnight ago. Saw Matt and Sam Jenkins -- who are pregnant -- for the first time in four (?) years. Saw Rachel and Robin's Daisy last night for the first time since April.
3) India hasn't pulled over the Christmas tree.
Best wishes to everyone for the holidays. Happy Christmas.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Side Track
It took us ages to get into the city last night. It's nice to know that Americans have to suffer traffic queues like we do. By the time we got to Jen and Mike's it was 9:00. Boy Town was jammed and it took us 30 mins to park. We then discovered the restaurant had valet parking.
Yoshi's Cafe is Japanese-Western fusion. It's also a "proper" restaurant -- as are the prices. Jen and I had a grilled teriyaki salmon fillet on a bed of risotto cake and fresh asparagus. Rob and Mike went for the MEAT option.
Then we hit Side Track: wall-to-wall guys. Jen was the only lady in there for the first beer. The place was cool. Nothing freaky. Except for the total lack of ladies. Compare this to a gay village in the UK where there are plenty of straights out too. There weren't even any gay girls there! Only tough moment for me was the visit to the gents. Stood next to a MASSIVE black guy. I was worried for my cheeks. Then he started singing along to the Madonna video playing over the speakers in a Judy Garland / Wizard of Oz voice. Same thing with the big butch barman... a tiny squeaky voice.
By the time we checked the clock it was midnight. Back home for one. I was knackered anyhow, so when the alarm went off this morning I felt terrible.
Still don't feel right -- despite throwing up half my Berry Blast fruit smoothie mid-morning [oh yes]. My sinuses are congested too -- I guess from the smoke in the bar.
Last night tonight. It's going to be a quiet one.
It took us ages to get into the city last night. It's nice to know that Americans have to suffer traffic queues like we do. By the time we got to Jen and Mike's it was 9:00. Boy Town was jammed and it took us 30 mins to park. We then discovered the restaurant had valet parking.
Yoshi's Cafe is Japanese-Western fusion. It's also a "proper" restaurant -- as are the prices. Jen and I had a grilled teriyaki salmon fillet on a bed of risotto cake and fresh asparagus. Rob and Mike went for the MEAT option.
Then we hit Side Track: wall-to-wall guys. Jen was the only lady in there for the first beer. The place was cool. Nothing freaky. Except for the total lack of ladies. Compare this to a gay village in the UK where there are plenty of straights out too. There weren't even any gay girls there! Only tough moment for me was the visit to the gents. Stood next to a MASSIVE black guy. I was worried for my cheeks. Then he started singing along to the Madonna video playing over the speakers in a Judy Garland / Wizard of Oz voice. Same thing with the big butch barman... a tiny squeaky voice.
By the time we checked the clock it was midnight. Back home for one. I was knackered anyhow, so when the alarm went off this morning I felt terrible.
Still don't feel right -- despite throwing up half my Berry Blast fruit smoothie mid-morning [oh yes]. My sinuses are congested too -- I guess from the smoke in the bar.
Last night tonight. It's going to be a quiet one.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Situation Update / Boy Town
1 inch of snow. Icy not soft.
Thai food from the Bangkok Cafe was excellent.
Exchanged sweater for India.
Naboo was destroyed by the Deathstar. The Force is with us!
Work has been better today (could it be any worse?). Got some things done and helped others to do the same. Chicken casaer salad for lunch was yummy. As were the Dunkin Donuts. A couple of the american ladies want me to stay here forever: they like my "easy going nature" and reckon I'd fit right in. [ooer]
Tonight Rob and I are going downtown into the city with Jen -- an asia colleague of Rob's who visited our house in the summer. We're going to "Boy Town". Look out fellas! Hopefully we'll have chance to do some lightning sightseeing and ride to the top of the Hancock Building [another Freudian?].
1 inch of snow. Icy not soft.
Thai food from the Bangkok Cafe was excellent.
Exchanged sweater for India.
Naboo was destroyed by the Deathstar. The Force is with us!
Work has been better today (could it be any worse?). Got some things done and helped others to do the same. Chicken casaer salad for lunch was yummy. As were the Dunkin Donuts. A couple of the american ladies want me to stay here forever: they like my "easy going nature" and reckon I'd fit right in. [ooer]
Tonight Rob and I are going downtown into the city with Jen -- an asia colleague of Rob's who visited our house in the summer. We're going to "Boy Town". Look out fellas! Hopefully we'll have chance to do some lightning sightseeing and ride to the top of the Hancock Building [another Freudian?].
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Having Fun?
Yesterday was completely unproductive: Everything that could go wrong with my laptop and the other IT systems did so. I got home stressed that my Transatlantic trip was turning into a nightmarish waste of time.
Today started the same, just cranked-up a notch. Things got even better at lunch time, when out-of-the-blue over our Chicago deep-pan pizza, Amy (the Finance Mgr here) announced that she is quitting at the end of next week due to "personal reasons".
I wish I'd taken a camera to capture the picture of her seven direct reports faces. Stunned. White. Ghostly. Jaws dropped.
Nobody said a thing.
Amy burst into tears and left the table. As the most remote person there, I followed -- I like Amy and hate seeing people upset -- she was OK, just needed a breather. When she got back to the table, it was really weird: Still nobody said a thing, they just got on with lunch as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Back at the office, I have an email from the UK, asking me to call my managers home. He asks if I'd like to stay on for another week in Chicago to help support the remaining Finance Team and soften the blow of Amy's sudden departure.
Hello Graeme, I have my grandfather's funeral on Monday!
So not only have I done f-all work so far, I'm now the go between agent for Amy and my Director back in the UK. Caught in the crossfire. Fantastic! Best thing is they'll probably offer me the job for the end of January. Too late folks -- we're buying a new house!
[Sigh]
Last night's food & entertainment was:
California Pizza Kitchen pizza (1x pepperoni, 1x pear and blue cheese)
2nd Qtr of Green Bay v St Louis
2 hours of Star Wars Battefront on the PS2.
Tonight's food and entertainment is:
Food unknown
Shopping
More Star Wars probably
Yesterday was completely unproductive: Everything that could go wrong with my laptop and the other IT systems did so. I got home stressed that my Transatlantic trip was turning into a nightmarish waste of time.
Today started the same, just cranked-up a notch. Things got even better at lunch time, when out-of-the-blue over our Chicago deep-pan pizza, Amy (the Finance Mgr here) announced that she is quitting at the end of next week due to "personal reasons".
I wish I'd taken a camera to capture the picture of her seven direct reports faces. Stunned. White. Ghostly. Jaws dropped.
Nobody said a thing.
Amy burst into tears and left the table. As the most remote person there, I followed -- I like Amy and hate seeing people upset -- she was OK, just needed a breather. When she got back to the table, it was really weird: Still nobody said a thing, they just got on with lunch as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Back at the office, I have an email from the UK, asking me to call my managers home. He asks if I'd like to stay on for another week in Chicago to help support the remaining Finance Team and soften the blow of Amy's sudden departure.
Hello Graeme, I have my grandfather's funeral on Monday!
So not only have I done f-all work so far, I'm now the go between agent for Amy and my Director back in the UK. Caught in the crossfire. Fantastic! Best thing is they'll probably offer me the job for the end of January. Too late folks -- we're buying a new house!
[Sigh]
Last night's food & entertainment was:
California Pizza Kitchen pizza (1x pepperoni, 1x pear and blue cheese)
2nd Qtr of Green Bay v St Louis
2 hours of Star Wars Battefront on the PS2.
Tonight's food and entertainment is:
Food unknown
Shopping
More Star Wars probably
Monday, November 29, 2004
Like Any Other Grey Monday Morning
After a great weekend, my work here has begun.
Or rather it hasn't -- it's taken all morning to get the IT systems running.
It's already clear that my week is not going to be easy. The sales database is screwed and nothing seems to be working as it should be. I didn't think I was jetlagged, but it's just approaching lunch time and I'm dizzy, flushed and headachy. And tired. I'm looking forward to my chicken casear pitta sandwich with onion rings side order...
The office is like all small manufacturing facilities around the globe. Grey. Dull. It even has the standard sweater-wearing scientists and techies. Open Univeristy 1970's stylee. They live.
It feels like any other Monday morning.
After a great weekend, my work here has begun.
Or rather it hasn't -- it's taken all morning to get the IT systems running.
It's already clear that my week is not going to be easy. The sales database is screwed and nothing seems to be working as it should be. I didn't think I was jetlagged, but it's just approaching lunch time and I'm dizzy, flushed and headachy. And tired. I'm looking forward to my chicken casear pitta sandwich with onion rings side order...
The office is like all small manufacturing facilities around the globe. Grey. Dull. It even has the standard sweater-wearing scientists and techies. Open Univeristy 1970's stylee. They live.
It feels like any other Monday morning.
Saturday, November 27, 2004
My Kind of Town
Hello from Chicago!
I arrived yesterday afternoon, after an uneventful eight hour flight, to be picked up by Rob in his Soccer Mom-bile. A light dusting of snow covered the ground -- an exciting sight as we came into land. Unfortunately we had rain overnight and all the snowmen have been washed away.
A glass of champagne and a couple of beers also washed my jetlag away. Last night we ordered pizza in and played some boardgames with Mark, Dave and Kate. An easy first night. The guys were a little surprised to see me still up at ten -- it was a 23 hour for me -- but whereas in the past I might have been a mess, India has trained me to survive on a lot less sleep than before.
In flight movies were:
The Bourne Supremacy -- pretty good.
Dodgeball -- really funny.
After a good night's sleep -- I only woke up once at six (just like home!) -- I cooked breakfast and we headed out to Gameworks for some video game acton and then a movie; National Treasure -- it's mediocre and anti-British (as usual these days with Hollywood).
Tonight is Tapas in Arlington Heights -- the original plan had been La Baton (go search on google) or the KitKat Club but they were booked up (my Gay Night out will have to wait until midweek) -- followed by drinks at the local sports bar.
It's not a holiday though...
Other notes:
Rob's apartment is very cool. Lots of floorspace and nicely decorated. Certainly might steal an idea or two for our new home.
I'm missing my wife and baby already.
Big kisses from the Windy City.
Hello from Chicago!
I arrived yesterday afternoon, after an uneventful eight hour flight, to be picked up by Rob in his Soccer Mom-bile. A light dusting of snow covered the ground -- an exciting sight as we came into land. Unfortunately we had rain overnight and all the snowmen have been washed away.
A glass of champagne and a couple of beers also washed my jetlag away. Last night we ordered pizza in and played some boardgames with Mark, Dave and Kate. An easy first night. The guys were a little surprised to see me still up at ten -- it was a 23 hour for me -- but whereas in the past I might have been a mess, India has trained me to survive on a lot less sleep than before.
In flight movies were:
The Bourne Supremacy -- pretty good.
Dodgeball -- really funny.
After a good night's sleep -- I only woke up once at six (just like home!) -- I cooked breakfast and we headed out to Gameworks for some video game acton and then a movie; National Treasure -- it's mediocre and anti-British (as usual these days with Hollywood).
Tonight is Tapas in Arlington Heights -- the original plan had been La Baton (go search on google) or the KitKat Club but they were booked up (my Gay Night out will have to wait until midweek) -- followed by drinks at the local sports bar.
It's not a holiday though...
Other notes:
Rob's apartment is very cool. Lots of floorspace and nicely decorated. Certainly might steal an idea or two for our new home.
I'm missing my wife and baby already.
Big kisses from the Windy City.
Monday, November 22, 2004
House News
We've accepted an offer on our house -- £202,500, a little below our "minimum acceptable" -- but only because we have offered (and had accepted) an offer on a large four bed detached house on the modern part of Thame's estate. Our purchase is a bargain and will set us up for a long time: the house represents 2 steps up on the property ladder for us. We are excited, and it ticks all of our boxes and more.
Mum is helping us with the Stamp Duty and moving costs -- the only reason we can afford this leap up.
The ball is now rolling and if everything goes smoothly, then with luck we may well complete the sale mid January: the chain is our cash buyer, us, our vendor who is going into rented -- i.e. a good short chain.
Fingers crossed.
We've accepted an offer on our house -- £202,500, a little below our "minimum acceptable" -- but only because we have offered (and had accepted) an offer on a large four bed detached house on the modern part of Thame's estate. Our purchase is a bargain and will set us up for a long time: the house represents 2 steps up on the property ladder for us. We are excited, and it ticks all of our boxes and more.
Mum is helping us with the Stamp Duty and moving costs -- the only reason we can afford this leap up.
The ball is now rolling and if everything goes smoothly, then with luck we may well complete the sale mid January: the chain is our cash buyer, us, our vendor who is going into rented -- i.e. a good short chain.
Fingers crossed.
Black Friday
I was going to update this last Thursday, but thanks to a nasty little virus passed on by India (she was poorly for 2 weeks), I was off work again with ANOTHER chest infection. Hardly the best preparation for my exam tomorrow.
But it was to get worse on Friday.
We had been looking forward to receiving news of Sara and Stashers new arrival: Sara was booked in for a cesaer.
Instead I got news that my grandad had dropped dead.
Seven weeks after his wife had died, my gramp seems to have died of a broken heart. You hear of these things all the time when elderly people suddenly lose their life-long loves and partners, but having seen gramp doing so well over the last week -- he seemed to be back to his normal self according to my mum -- the fact he's gone is a real shock. I can't believe it really. No chance to say goodbye. No chance to help me get over gran's loss by talking things through with him. Quite simply a terrible blow.
We await the Coroner's post-mortem report tomorrow: As gramp hadn't seen a Doctor since gran's death, and his collapse was so sudden (he had spoken to his neighbour five minutes before he was found dead), a post-mortem is required.
Frankly, this year has been dreadful, with all three of my surviving grandparents dying. The only consolidation I can take from gramp's death is that he is now where he wanted to be.
The silver-lining of the day was the good news from Sara and Stasher that tempered our tragedy suffered:
Rory Edward Neville was born fit and healthy. 5 lbs, 12 oz
Congratulations Mum and Dad!
Edward was my gramps name...
I was going to update this last Thursday, but thanks to a nasty little virus passed on by India (she was poorly for 2 weeks), I was off work again with ANOTHER chest infection. Hardly the best preparation for my exam tomorrow.
But it was to get worse on Friday.
We had been looking forward to receiving news of Sara and Stashers new arrival: Sara was booked in for a cesaer.
Instead I got news that my grandad had dropped dead.
Seven weeks after his wife had died, my gramp seems to have died of a broken heart. You hear of these things all the time when elderly people suddenly lose their life-long loves and partners, but having seen gramp doing so well over the last week -- he seemed to be back to his normal self according to my mum -- the fact he's gone is a real shock. I can't believe it really. No chance to say goodbye. No chance to help me get over gran's loss by talking things through with him. Quite simply a terrible blow.
We await the Coroner's post-mortem report tomorrow: As gramp hadn't seen a Doctor since gran's death, and his collapse was so sudden (he had spoken to his neighbour five minutes before he was found dead), a post-mortem is required.
Frankly, this year has been dreadful, with all three of my surviving grandparents dying. The only consolidation I can take from gramp's death is that he is now where he wanted to be.
The silver-lining of the day was the good news from Sara and Stasher that tempered our tragedy suffered:
Rory Edward Neville was born fit and healthy. 5 lbs, 12 oz
Congratulations Mum and Dad!
Edward was my gramps name...
Monday, November 08, 2004
Confidence Evaporates
I had been confident that we'd be celebrating the sale of our house -- at it's full asking price -- within a matter of days. Unfortunately this hasn't happened. We had the one viewing on Saturday and the feedback was:
"He liked it... but thought that the living room was too small. He won't be putting in an offer."
WTF did he expect?! It's a Victorian Terrace house. ALL the reception rooms are small. If he's that worried, then knock the internal wall down... Nevermind.
And after speaking with our agent about the girl who put in the laughably low offers, it's clear she was taking a punt on things: Apparently she DOES have the money, as she's been looking at up to £225,000...
Going into this week we now have ZERO potential buyers lined up. Not good.
Of course we looked at 3 properties ourselves over the weekend.
Property 1 is good enough that we're going to offer on it tomorrow, despite the fact there are already 2 bids for it on the table and we haven't sold. Asking price is £249,950 and we'll have to offer that I think.
Property 2 was a 35 min round trip due to road works. The agent turned up 5 mins late... with the WRONG KEYS. F*ckwit. As the house is right next door to a pub with a kebab van in it, we won't be going back for another look.
Property 3 was OK, but outside our budget once you added on the fees and the work we'd want to do to it.
So property 1 it is then... It's not in Thame though, it's in Stone.
I had been confident that we'd be celebrating the sale of our house -- at it's full asking price -- within a matter of days. Unfortunately this hasn't happened. We had the one viewing on Saturday and the feedback was:
"He liked it... but thought that the living room was too small. He won't be putting in an offer."
WTF did he expect?! It's a Victorian Terrace house. ALL the reception rooms are small. If he's that worried, then knock the internal wall down... Nevermind.
And after speaking with our agent about the girl who put in the laughably low offers, it's clear she was taking a punt on things: Apparently she DOES have the money, as she's been looking at up to £225,000...
Going into this week we now have ZERO potential buyers lined up. Not good.
Of course we looked at 3 properties ourselves over the weekend.
Property 1 is good enough that we're going to offer on it tomorrow, despite the fact there are already 2 bids for it on the table and we haven't sold. Asking price is £249,950 and we'll have to offer that I think.
Property 2 was a 35 min round trip due to road works. The agent turned up 5 mins late... with the WRONG KEYS. F*ckwit. As the house is right next door to a pub with a kebab van in it, we won't be going back for another look.
Property 3 was OK, but outside our budget once you added on the fees and the work we'd want to do to it.
So property 1 it is then... It's not in Thame though, it's in Stone.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Inertia Creeps
She has just come back with an increased offer of £200,000.
I didn't need to say anything to our agent...
I'm half expecting her to now come back with £202,500 -- which will be her top offer and one that will still be instantly rejected.
I think we can safely write this first potential buyer off now.
She has just come back with an increased offer of £200,000.
I didn't need to say anything to our agent...
I'm half expecting her to now come back with £202,500 -- which will be her top offer and one that will still be instantly rejected.
I think we can safely write this first potential buyer off now.
Dream On
Tried to blog some of this yesterday, but Blogger was clearly crippled under the strain of millions of Americans voicing their dismay and fury at George W Bush getting in again...
We had a viewing on our house at lunch time yesterday and she was keen enough to book a second viewing. with her mum and dad, at half past five last night. According to the agent she's a first time buyer who has missed out on a house on our road before -- I'm guessing Ben and Sharyn's two doors down.
I've been waiting on an offer coming in all morning and have just received it: £195,000.
I actually laughed at the agent. What a joke. Dream on lady. I told the agent to tell her that if she was a serious buyer, and wanted to seal a deal before the house is advertising in the local papers, then she would be offering the asking price. After all, Ben and Sharyn's went for £193,000 and it has one less bedroom and isn't as nice.
I think she's watched too many of those property TV shows where peeps offer way below the asking price as their opening bid. Unfortunately for her, we're not desperate to move and the asking price is aggressive to realistic.
Now we'll wait to see her response: Vic doesn't think she's got the money for a much higher bid...
Tried to blog some of this yesterday, but Blogger was clearly crippled under the strain of millions of Americans voicing their dismay and fury at George W Bush getting in again...
We had a viewing on our house at lunch time yesterday and she was keen enough to book a second viewing. with her mum and dad, at half past five last night. According to the agent she's a first time buyer who has missed out on a house on our road before -- I'm guessing Ben and Sharyn's two doors down.
I've been waiting on an offer coming in all morning and have just received it: £195,000.
I actually laughed at the agent. What a joke. Dream on lady. I told the agent to tell her that if she was a serious buyer, and wanted to seal a deal before the house is advertising in the local papers, then she would be offering the asking price. After all, Ben and Sharyn's went for £193,000 and it has one less bedroom and isn't as nice.
I think she's watched too many of those property TV shows where peeps offer way below the asking price as their opening bid. Unfortunately for her, we're not desperate to move and the asking price is aggressive to realistic.
Now we'll wait to see her response: Vic doesn't think she's got the money for a much higher bid...
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Wiggle It Just a Little Bit
We've put our house on the market (yesterday). American readers may be a little surprised that the asking price for a Victoria terrace property in a provincial SE market town, with just 3 bedrooms and 2 reception rooms, is £207,500 -- that's a round $370,000. Frankly £207,500 is a bargain: we've looked at a host of local properties recevtly and you won't find a nicer home in Thame until you get to the £275,000 mark.
Of course, it what you DON'T get for £207,500 that's the key: no garage or off-street parking, and no escape from the next door neighbours attached on both sides. Seriously, we're looking at houses up to the £250,000 stamp duty threshold and we'll get less floor-space, a kitchen and bathroom that will need refitting, nasty sticky carpets, BUT a garage and a cloakroom for our extra £40 grand.
Feel free to make us an offer, although Australian dollars will not be accepted.
Why are we moving? You'll know why from previous blog entries if you've kept a sharp eye on things and read between the lines. We just need to start afresh with a new project too. The possibility of relocating -- places like Kent and Chicago -- has cropped up in conversation, although Thame is still our current preferred location.
We actually put an offer in on a property just around the corner from us last week but it got rejected in favour of the cash buyer. Which is why we've bitten the bullet and put ours up for sale.
I'll blog what happens daily I think.
Today's House News:
No calls from the estate agent.
No viewings on our house.
No viewings made by us.
Viewings in the book:
None on our property.
We're looking at 1 on Friday and 1 on Saturday.
We've put our house on the market (yesterday). American readers may be a little surprised that the asking price for a Victoria terrace property in a provincial SE market town, with just 3 bedrooms and 2 reception rooms, is £207,500 -- that's a round $370,000. Frankly £207,500 is a bargain: we've looked at a host of local properties recevtly and you won't find a nicer home in Thame until you get to the £275,000 mark.
Of course, it what you DON'T get for £207,500 that's the key: no garage or off-street parking, and no escape from the next door neighbours attached on both sides. Seriously, we're looking at houses up to the £250,000 stamp duty threshold and we'll get less floor-space, a kitchen and bathroom that will need refitting, nasty sticky carpets, BUT a garage and a cloakroom for our extra £40 grand.
Feel free to make us an offer, although Australian dollars will not be accepted.
Why are we moving? You'll know why from previous blog entries if you've kept a sharp eye on things and read between the lines. We just need to start afresh with a new project too. The possibility of relocating -- places like Kent and Chicago -- has cropped up in conversation, although Thame is still our current preferred location.
We actually put an offer in on a property just around the corner from us last week but it got rejected in favour of the cash buyer. Which is why we've bitten the bullet and put ours up for sale.
I'll blog what happens daily I think.
Today's House News:
No calls from the estate agent.
No viewings on our house.
No viewings made by us.
Viewings in the book:
None on our property.
We're looking at 1 on Friday and 1 on Saturday.
